Structural device for joining spaced wooden members

ABSTRACT

The device includes a pair of plates, each having a generally channel-shaped configuration with a flange at one end. The flanges have a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck therefrom for embedment into the respective frame members. The channel-shaped members are telescopically received one within the other at the ends remote from the flanges and secured whereby the frame members are spaced one from the other at selected distances. The upper flanges of the elements are arcuately contoured and provide clearance between the upper flanges and a seat and spring underside to permit deflection of the seat construction toward the flanges when an individual is seated.

United States Patent [191 J ureit et a].

1 STRUCTURAL DEVICE FOR JOINING SPACED WOODEN MEMBERS [75] Inventors:John Calvin Jureit, 8901 Arvida Lane, Coral Gables, Fla. 33156; AndrewG. Seipos, 650 NE. 31st St., Miami, Fla. 33137 [73] Assignee: AmericanBuilding Components,

Inc., Fla.

[22] Filed: May 3, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 466,825

[52] US. Cl. 52/632; 52/696; 52/700; 52/715; 52/DIG. 6; 248/216;297/452;

[51] Int. Cl. E04G 25/06; E04C 3/11 [58] Field of Search 52/699, 700,696, 317,

52/715, 644, 632, DIG. 6, 753 L, 758 N; 403/363, 393; 85/13; 297/452;248/216, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,736 4/1922 Hamilton52/632 X 2,050,318 8/1936 Henry 403/393 X 2,106,654 1/1938 Poe 52/DIG. 6

2,201,043 5/1940 Kirsch 211/l05.3

2,214,388 9/1940 Summers 248/57 X 2,612,848 10/1952 Sowden 52/632 X2,917,263 12/1959 Appleton et a1. 85/13 Primary E.\-aminer-Ernest R.Purser Assistant ExaminerLeslie A. Braun Attorney, Agent, or FirmLeBlanc& Shur [5 7 ABSTRACT The device includes a pair of plates, each having agenerally channel-shaped configuration with a flange at one end. Theflanges have a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck therefromfor embedment into the respective frame members. The channel-shapedmembers are telescopically received one within the other at the endsremote from the flanges and secured whereby the frame members are spacedone from the other at selected distances. The upper flanges of theelements are arcuately contoured and provide clearance between the upperflanges and a seat and spring underside to permit deflection of the seatconstruction toward the flanges when an individual is seated.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 1 of23,914,914

US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,914 914 STRUCTURAL DEVICE FORJOININGSPACED WOODEN MEMBERS The present invention relates to astructural device for joining two wooden members spaced one from theother and particularly relates to a novel and improved stretcher forjoining the front and back rails of a furniture piece one to the other.

In the furniture construction industry, it is customary to connect thefront and back frames of a furniture piece, for example, a sofa, one tothe other by a plurality of longitudinally spaced wooden stretcherswhich extend between and are fastened atopposite ends to the front andback rails of the respective frames. Present practice requires theexpenditure of extensive labor to fabricate the stretchers to therequired sizes and configurations and to assemble the furniture frame,i.e., connect the stretchers to the front and back frames to form thecompleted frame. Further, certain current furniture constructionrequires stretchers having an arcuate upper surface for maximizingclearance between the seat construction and the stretchers. The curvednature of this upper surface greatly increases the costs of formingwooden stretchers. Furthermore, various different furniture piecesrequire stretchers having different lengths and configurations which notonly increase the cost of a particular piece of furniture, but alsorequire, in essence, the custom manufacture of a furniture frame foreach piece. Current fabrication and assembly techniques in the furnitureindustry are therefore not readily adaptable to high productioncapacity.

The present invention minimizes and/or eliminates the above noted andother problems associated with prior structural devices for joiningwooden members, particularly stretchers for use in furnitureconstruction, and provides a novel and improved structural-device,particularly useful as a stretcher in furniture construction, havingvarious advantages in construction and assembly in comparison with suchprior .devices and stretchers. Particularly, the present inventionprovides a stretcher comprised of a pair of sheet metal plates,

each bent to form a generally channel-shaped element having an inturnedflange at one end. A plurality of elongated nail-like teeth are struckfrom the end flange and project in a direction away from the plate forembedment into the front or back rail of a furniture frame. Thechannel-shaped elements are telescopically received one within the otherwhereby the furniture frames can be selectively spaced in accordancewith the particular furniture design. The channel-shaped elements arepreferablyjoined one to the other, with the frames at the requiredspacing, by a plurality of teethh struck from one element and engagingthrough the other element. The tips of the teeth are then deformed to,in effect, rivet the members one to the other. Other types of securementcan be provided as desired. For example, the elements can be riveted orspot welded one to the other. Another feature of the present inventionother. Moreover, the arcuate flange is readily formed other;

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved stretcher for use in a furniture construction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a noveland improved stretcher for joining spaced furniture frames one to theother at selected. disis the provision of an arcuate upper surface foreach of the arcuate flanges cooperate each with theother to form acontinuous upper arcuate surface 01' recess bounded by the frames and inwhich springs, webbing, cushions and the like can be received. It willbe appreciated that the frames are thus readily secured one to the otherat predetermined distances one from,the

It isa further object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved steel stretcher for furniture construction and wherein thesteel stretcher is readily and easily applied to the frames.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a noveland improved furniture frame construction which is readily andinexpensively fabricated.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved furniture construction including a plurality of steelstretchers having arcuate upper surfaces forming a support and a recessfor receiving springs, webbing, cushions and the like.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon refer- .ence to the following specification,claims and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa frame for a furniture piece andemploying a plurality of structural devices constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating a pair ofwooden members, such as the front and back rails of the furniture frameof FIG. I, joined one to the other by a structural device constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2; t

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of structural elementscomprising the device hereof;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the elements ofthe device in FIG. 3 in assembled relation one to the other;

FIGS. 57 are fragmentary perspective views of the elements joined one tothe other and illustrating several forms of joint therefor; and

- FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another form ofjuncture between the elements.

I Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 2, there isdisclosed a structural device, generally indicated 10, for joining 'twospaced wooden members one to the other. While the device is useful forjoining any two wooden members one to the other, it has particularutilization in the furniture construction industry for joining the frontand back rails of furniture pieces one to the other. For example, thereis illustrated in FIG. 1, a front furniture frame FF comprised of afront rail 12 which spans the entire width of the furniture piece and arear furniture frame RF including a back rail 16 which likewisespans theentire width of the furniture piece.- In most furniture pieces, the rearframe RF is in clined to the vertical and is conventionally joined tothe front rail 12 by a plurality of longitudinally spaced woodenstretchers each having the general outline of the structural device 10.It will be appreciated, however, that these stretchers, when formed ofwood, are expensive to fabricate and assemble in the furniture piece.

Referring to FIG. 4, the structural device is comprised of a pair ofelements 18 and 20. Element 18 comprises a flat elongated sheet metalplate 22 bent to form a pair of flanges 24 and 26 along its upper andlower edges respectively, whereby the element 18 is substantiallychannel-shaped. The flanges 24 and 26 diverge and incline upwardly andarcuately away from one another in a direction toward the end of theelement which is secured to the rear frame. The flanges 24 and 26 atthe'opposite end of element 18 extend parallel one to the other for theportion of its length indicated at 32 for reasons as will become clearfrom the ensuing description.

The end of element 18 remote from end portion 32 is provided with aflange 34 bent from base 22 to lie on the same side thereof as flanges24 and 26. Flange 34 extends between the ends of flanges 24 and 26 andat an angle upwardly and rearwardly corresponding to the angle ofinclination of the rear frame from the vertical. To secure element 18 tothe rail 16 of the back frame, a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth36 are struck from flange 34. Particularly, the teeth 36 are struck fromflange 34 to project in a direction away from end 32 and leave aplurality of slots 38 in flange 34. The teeth are preferably arranged ina plurality of vertically extending transversely spaced rows as bestillustrated in FIG. 3. The teeth 36 may be configured and arrangedsimilarly as in my US. Pat. No. 2,877,520 or US. patent application Ser.No. 153,169 flled June 15, 1971.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the second element of the device 10 is formedsimilarly as element 18. Particularly, element 20 comprises an elongatedflat sheet metal plate bent to form upper flanges 40 and 42 along itsupper and lower edges respectively, whereby element 20 is substantiallychannel-shaped. Flanges 40 and 42 diverge and incline upwardly andarcuately away from one another in a direction toward the end of theelement secured to the front frame. The flanges 40 and 42 at theopposite end of element 20 extend parallel one to the other for theportion of its length indicated at 50. In comparing elements 18 and 20,end portion 50 of element 20 is sized as to be receivable within the endportion 32 of element 18.

Element 20 is also provided with a flange 52 on the end thereof remotefrom end portion 50. Flange 52 is bent from base 44 on the same sidethereof as flanges 40 and 42 and extends the full vertical distancebetween the ends of flanges 40 and 42 at an angle corresponding to theinclination of the front frame from the vertical. In the particularconstruction illustrated, the front frame extends substantiallyvertically. Flange 52, similarly as flange 34, is provided with aplurality of elongated nail-like teeth 54 struck to project therefrom ina direction away from end portion 50 for embedment in rail 12.Particularly, teeth 54 are configured and arranged similarly as teeth36.

It will be appreciated that the teeth 36 of flange 34 and teeth 54 offlange 52 may be embedded into the respective rear and front rails 16and 12 by any suitable type press, for example a C-clamp as disclosed inmy US. Pat. No. 3,402,869. Further, it will beappreciated that aplurality of such elements are spotted along rails 12 and 16 atlongitudinally spaced positions one from the other with the frames beingassembled one to the other by telescoping the end portion 50 of element20 within the end portion 32 of element 18. The frames can be adjustablyspaced one from the other selected distances as desired with endportions 32 and 50 telescoping to a greater or lesser extent.

To secure the element 18 and 20 one to the other with the frames in theselected spaced positions, several types of securement may be employed.In FIG. 4, the base 22 of overlapping element 18 in the region of endportion 32 is provided with a plurality of teeth 58 struck to projecttherefrom on the same side as flanges 24 and 26. After the elements areapplied to the rails and the frames are properly spaced, a suitablepress is applied to elements 18 and 20 to drive the teeth 58 throughbase portion 44 of element 20. Alternately,

slots corresponding in spacing as the teeth 58 may be provided in thebase 44 of element 20 for receiving teeth 58. As illustrated in FIG. 4a,the tips 60 of the teeth 58 are then deformed to secure the elements inassembled relation one to the other. This deformation may take the formof an enlargement of the metal tip to form, in effect, a rivet head.Alternatively, the tips of the teeth can be peened over to effect thesecurement.

Alternately, teeth and slots may be provided in the base of each element18 and 20. As illustrated in FIG. 8, teeth 58a and 58b project from thebases of elements and, 20a. Also each base carries spaced slots 59preferably sized to match the cross section of the teeth. Providing oneor both bases of elements 18a and 20a with more slots than teeth permitstelescoping adjustment of elements 18a and 20a to space the front andrear frames one from the other as desired. Fewer teeth are required inthis assembly and, by matching slot size to tooth cross section, it willbe appreciated that a simple twist with or without bending of the teethin a press will effectively lock elements 18a and 20a one to the other.

Referring to FIG. 5, the overlapping flanges 24, 40 and 26, 42 can becrimped one to the other after the frames are properly spaced. In FIG.6, the flanges may be provided with a plurality of precut tabs 72. Whenthe elements are telescopically received with the rails spaced asdesired, the tabs of the overlapping flanges can be bent or peened overto secure the elements one to the other. Alternatively, and referring toFIG. 7, elements 18 and 20 can be secured one to the other by a seriesof spot welds indicated 70.

It will thus be appreciated that the device hereof forms an effectivestructural joint between a pair of spaced wooden members and isparticularly useful for joining the front and back frames of furniturepieces one to the other. For example, as in FIG. 1, a plurality of suchdevices are longitudinally spaced one from the other along a furnitureframe and secure the front and back frames one to the other. Moreover,the continuous upper flange formed by the flanges 24 and 40 of elementsl8 and 20 respectively form a spring deflection clearance and in somecases may be used for support of webbing and cushions and the like.Further, such metal devices, as utilized in a furniture construction,replace the more expensively formed wooden pieces.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A frame comprising a pair of elongated spaced wooden membersextending generally parallel one to the other, plural means atlongitudinally spaced positions along said members connecting saidmembers one to the other with each connecting means including first andsecond sheet metal plates each having a base and a flange bent out ofthe plane containing said base, each said flange extending substantiallythe entire length of the associated base in reinforcing relationthereto, each said plate including a second flange bent out of the planecontaining the associated base and projecting from an end thereof, eachsaid second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teethstruck to project in a direction away from the associated base andembedded into one of said members and leaving a plurality of slots insaid second flange, and means join ing said first and second plates oneto the other at the ends thereof remote from their respective secondflanges to prevent endwise movement of said plates relative to oneanother and movement of said wooden members toward or away from oneanother, the second flanges lying in non-parallel planes generallynormal to parallel planes containing the bases of said plates when theplates are joined one to the other, the base of each said plate beingsubstantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange ofeach plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of likearcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping oneanother when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smoothcontinuous arcuate surface.

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein said plural connecting meansconstitute teeth struck from said plates and said frame constitutes afurniture frame, said arcuately contoured flanges lying along the upperside of said plates in said furniture frame.

3. A device for joining a pair of spaced wooden members one to theother, said device comprising a sheet metal plate adapted fordisposition between the members, said plate including a base and aflange bent out of the plane containing said base and extendinggenerally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof, said flangeextending substantially the entire length of said base in reinforcingrelation thereto, said plate having a second flange bent out of theplane containing said base and projecting generally perpendicular tosaid base from an end thereof, said second flange having a plurality ofelongated nail-like teeth struck to project therefrom in a directionaway from said base for embedment into the one member and leaving aplurality of slots in said flange, a second sheet metal plate includinga base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base andextending generally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof,said flange extending substantially the entire length of said base inreinforcing relation thereto, said second plate having a second flangebent out of the plane containing said base and projecting from an endthereof, said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-liketeeth struck therefrom to project in a direction away from the base ofsaid second plate for embedment into the other member and leaving aplurality of slots in said second flange, the base of each plate beingsubstantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange ofeach plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of likearcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping oneanother when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smoothcontinuous upper surface, and means for joining the ends of said platesremote from their respective second flanges thereof one to the other toprevent endwise movement of said plates relative to one another, thesecond flanges lying in non-parallel planes generally normal to parallelplanes containing the bases of said plates when the plates are joinedone to the other.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein each of said plates has a thirdflange bent out of the plane containing the associated base, the firstand third flanges of each plate projecting from said base on a like sidethereof to define a generally channel-shaped plate, the end of one ofsaid channel-shaped plates remote from its second flange beingreceivable within the end of the other of said channel-shaped platesremote from its second flange.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein each of said plates includes athird flange bent out of the plane containing said base and extendingsubstantially the entire length of said base in reinforcing relationthereto, the first and second flanges of each said plate projecting fromthe associated base on a like side thereof to define generally channelshaped plates.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein the ends of said plates remotefrom the second flanges thereof overlap one another, and means engagingthrough the overlapping ends of said plates for securing one plate tothe other. i

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said securing means includesmeans for securing the members one to the other at selected locationstherealong whereby the respective second flanges are spaced selecteddistances one from the other.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein said securing means includes aplurality of teeth struck from an end of one plate and engaging throughthe end of the other plate, the tips of said latter teeth on the side ofthe other plate remote from the one plate being deformed to retain theplates secured one to the other.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said latter teeth are struckfrom the base of one of the plates and engage through the base of theother of the plates.

1. A frame comprising a pair of elongated spaced wooden membersextending generally parallel one to the other, plural means atlongitudinally spaced positions along said members connecting saidmembers one to the other with each connecting means including first andsecond sheet metal plates each having a base and a flange bent out ofthe plane containing said base, each said flange extending substantiallythe entire length of the associated base in reinforcing relationthereto, each said plate including a second flange bent out of the planecontaining the associated base and projecting from an end thereof, eachsaid second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-like teethstruck to project in a direction away from the associated base andembedded into one of said members and leaving a plurality of slots insaid second flange, and means joining said first and second plates oneto the other at the ends thereof remote from their respective secondflanges to prevent endwise movement of said plates relative to oneanother and movement of said wooden members toward or away from oneanother, the second flanges lying in non-parallel planes generallynormal to parallel planes containing the bases of said plates when theplates are joined one to the other, the base of each said plate beingsubstantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange ofeach plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of likearcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping oneanother when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smoothcontinuous arcuate surcace.
 2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein saidplural connecting means constitute teeth struck from said plates andsaid frame constitutes a furniture frame, said arcuately contouredflanges lying along the upper side of said plates in said furnitureframe.
 3. A device for joining a pair of spaced wooden members one tothe other, said device comprising a sheet metal plate adapted fordisposition between the members, said plate including a base and aflange bent out of the plane containing said base and extendinggenerally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof, said flangeextending substantially the entire length of said base in reinforcingrelation thereto, said plate having a second flange bent out of theplane containing said base and projecting generally perpendicular tosaid base from an end thereof, said second flange having a plurality ofelongated nail-like teeth struck to project therefrom in a directionaway from said base for embedment into the one member and leaving aplurality of slots in said flange, a second sheet metal plate includinga base and a flange bent out of the plane containing said base andextending generally perpendicular to said base along one edge thereof,said flange extending substantially the entire length of said base inreinforcing relation thereto, said second plate having a second flangebent out of the plane containing said base and projecting from an endthereof, said second flange having a plurality of elongated nail-liketeeth struck therefrom to project in a direction away from the base ofsaid second plate for embedment into the other member and leaving aplurality of slots in said second flange, the base of each plate beingsubstantially planar and having an arcuate edge, the first flange ofeach plate projecting from said arcuate edge and having a face of likearcuate contour, said arcuately contoured flanges overlapping oneanother when said plates are joined to provide a substantially smoothcontinuous upper surface, and means for joining the ends of said platesremote from their respective second flanges thereof one to the other toprevent endwise movement of said plates relative to one another, thesecond fLanges lying in non-parallel planes generally normal to parallelplanes containing the bases of said plates when the plates are joinedone to the other.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein each of saidplates has a third flange bent out of the plane containing theassociated base, the first and third flanges of each plate projectingfrom said base on a like side thereof to define a generallychannel-shaped plate, the end of one of said channel-shaped platesremote from its second flange being receivable within the end of theother of said channel-shaped plates remote from its second flange.
 5. Adevice according to claim 3 wherein each of said plates includes a thirdflange bent out of the plane containing said base and extendingsubstantially the entire length of said base in reinforcing relationthereto, the first and second flanges of each said plate projecting fromthe associated base on a like side thereof to define generally channelshaped plates.
 6. A device according to claim 3 wherein the ends of saidplates remote from the second flanges thereof overlap one another, andmeans engaging through the overlapping ends of said plates for securingone plate to the other.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein saidsecuring means includes means for securing the members one to the otherat selected locations therealong whereby the respective second flangesare spaced selected distances one from the other.
 8. A device accordingto claim 6 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of teethstruck from an end of one plate and engaging through the end of theother plate, the tips of said latter teeth on the side of the otherplate remote from the one plate being deformed to retain the platessecured one to the other.
 9. A device according to claim 8 wherein saidlatter teeth are struck from the base of one of the plates and engagethrough the base of the other of the plates.